Bioaugmentation with marine sediment-derived microbial consortia in mesophilic anaerobic digestion for enhancing methane production under ammonium or salinity stress

Bioresour Technol. 2023 May:376:128853. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.128853. Epub 2023 Mar 9.

Abstract

Ammonium (NH4+) and salinity (NaCl) inhibit CH4 production in anaerobic digestion. However, whether bioaugmentation using marine sediment-derived microbial consortia can relieve the inhibitory effects of NH4+ and NaCl stresses on CH4 production remains unclear. Thus, this study evaluated the effectiveness of bioaugmentation using marine sediment-derived microbial consortia in alleviating the inhibition of CH4 production under NH4+ or NaCl stress and elucidated the underlying mechanisms. Batch anaerobic digestion experiments under 5 gNH4-N/L or 30 g/L NaCl were performed with or without augmentation using two marine sediment-derived microbial consortia pre-acclimated to high NH4+ and NaCl. Compared with non-bioaugmentation, bioaugmentation reinforced CH4 production. Network analysis revealed the joint effects of microbial connections by Methanoculleus, which promoted the efficient consumption of propionate accumulated under NH4+ and NaCl stresses. In conclusion, bioaugmentation with pre-acclimated marine sediment-derived microbial consortia can mitigate the inhibition under NH4+ or NaCl stress and enhance CH4 production in anaerobic digestion.

Keywords: Biogas recovery; Cooccurrence network; Inhibitory condition; Mitigation mechanism; Propionate degradation.

MeSH terms

  • Ammonium Compounds*
  • Anaerobiosis
  • Bioreactors
  • Geologic Sediments
  • Methane
  • Microbial Consortia*
  • Salt Stress
  • Sodium Chloride / pharmacology

Substances

  • Ammonium Compounds
  • Sodium Chloride
  • Methane